Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1887-05-20
X IN G.
Solomon S Mines.

Look. q kingI look, Gagool! Look,
chiefs and people and women, and see II the
white men from tile stars keep their words,
or il they be but empty liars! The sun
grows dark before your eyes; soon there
will be nigilt-ay, night In the noon-tnie.
Ye hay,. asked for Il sign; it is given to we.
Grow dark. o sun. Withdraw thy light thou
bright one; bring the proud heart to dust
and cat up the world with shadows"
A groan of terror rose from the onookers
Some stood petriiied with fear, others threw
themselves upon their knees, and cried out
As for the king, he sat still and turned pale
beneath his dusky skin. Only Gagool kept
her courage.
at will pass" she cried; Il have seen the
like before; no man can put out the sun ;
lose no heart; sit still--the shadow shall
pass"
wait. and ye shall see," | replied, hop
ping with excitement
Keep it up, Good, can't remember any
more poetry. Curse away, there's a good
fellow"
Good responded nobly TO the tax upon his
inventive faculties. Never before had L the
fantest conception OF the breadth and depth
and height OF a naval officers obligatory
powers For ten minutes he went on with
out stopping, and he scarcely ever repeated
himself.
Meanwhile the dark ring crept on. Strange
md unholy shadows encroached upon the
sunlight an Ominous quiet filled the pl ace,
the birds chirped out frightened notes, and
then were still; only the cocks began 10
crow.
On, yet on, crcpt the ring of darkness; it
was now more than half over the rcddening
orb The air grew chick and dusky On,
yet on, till we could scarcely see the Hence
faces OF the group before us. No sound rose
now from the spectators, and Good stopped
swearing.
The sun is dying-the wizards have killed
the sum-" yelled out the boy Scragga at last
we shall die IN the dark, and animated by
fear or fury, or both, he lifted his spear, and
drove 1t with all his force at Sir Henry
broad chest But he had forgotten the mall
shirts that the king had given us, and which
we wore beneath our clothing. The steel
rcDoundcd harmless, and before he could re-
pat the blow Sir Henry had snatcheG the
spear from his hand, and sent 1t straight
through him. He dropped dead
At the sight, and driven mad with fear at
the gathering gloom, the companies OF girls
broke up In wild confusion, and ran screech-
Ing for tho gateways. Nor dit the panic
stop there he king himself, followed by
the guards some of the chiefs, aud Gagool,
who h0bbIed away after them with marvel
Gus uacr,ty, fled for the huts, SO that in an
other minute or so ourselves, the wm'ld.be
victim, FOuata, lnfadOos, and some Of the
chiefs, who had interviewed us ON the pre-
vGouS night were left alone upon the scene
with the deaf body of SCrdgga.
Now, chiefs" | said, we have given
you the Sign. II ye are satisfied, let us fly
iwftly to the place ye spoke OF. The charm
cannot now be stopped. 1t will work for an
hour Let us take advantage of The dark
rcSs."
Come" said InfadoOs turning to 90, an
example which was followed by the awed
chiefs, ourselves, ana the girl Foulata, whom
Good took by the hand.
Before we reached the gate OF the kraa!
the sun went out altogether.
Holding each other By the hand we stumb-
led on through the darkness.